CSIA Calls For Data Security Legislation In Wake Of Lastest Major Breach

Arlington, Va. – January 11, 2006 – The Cyber Security Industry Alliance (CSIA) today urged Congress to focus on passing comprehensive data breach legislation, as a Bahamas Hotel announced that financial data on 55,000 of its customers appeared to have been stolen.

“It was frightening enough for American consumers when major corporate database breaches here at home started exposing the potential vulnerability of their personal information,” said CSIA Executive Director Paul Kurtz. “That threat alone is more than worthy of federal legislation to protect consumer data and require prompt notification of security breaches. But now that the problem is expanding overseas, it’s all the more important that we get our own house in order and move on to improving international law enforcement cooperation. We can’t let the criminals get any farther ahead of the cops than they already are.”

Kurtz noted that the Senate Foreign Relations Committee has approved the international Convention on Cybercrime – an agreement reached between the United States and 41 other nations in 2001 that provides a framework for international law enforcement cooperation – but that it still awaits ratification by the full Senate.

The Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas recently acknowledged an apparent database break-in in which personal information for 55,000 guests may have been stolen, including names, addresses, credit card numbers, Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers and bank account numbers.

The Cyber Security Industry Alliance is the only advocacy group dedicated to ensuring the privacy, reliability and integrity of information systems through public policy, technology, education and awareness. Led by CEOs from the world’s top security providers, CSIA believes a comprehensive approach to information system security is vital to the stability of the global economy. Visit our web site at www.csialliance.org.